“We played desperate. We found a way to get the puck out of our end. We didn’t do that the last four games.'' -- Henrik Zetterberg

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – The Detroit Red Wings spent the past week talking about the need to play the right way, something their coach, Mike Babcock, felt they weren’t doing even when they were winning.

A matchup with one of the hottest teams in the NHL Wednesday enabled the Red Wings to rediscover their winning formula.

“We had the puck a lot more because we executed out of the D-zone fast, we didn’t waste a lot of time in there and we got through the neutral zone, and ended up having way more puck possession in the offensive zone because of it,’’ Babcock said. “And that’s the right way to play.

“We believe we’ve gone through enough details that we should know how to play and be able to do it on a nightly basis, but we haven’t shown thus far we can. So tonight was a good step.’’

The Red Wings (7-4-2) ended a four-game winless skid (0-2-2) and snapped Vancouver’s four-game winning streak. Grinding one out was a good way to start a four-game Western Canada trip.

“We played desperate today and found a way to win,’’ Red Wings captain Henrik Zetterberg said.

“We found a way to get the puck out of our end. We didn’t do that the last four games. One quick pass and we went.’’

The Red Wings had been allowing an average of 32.5 shots per game. They had 15 blocked shots.

“The guys did a great job in front of me,’’ Howard said. “They allowed me to get out, be big, see the shots. And if they were able to get one through and there’s a rebound, they cleared it out for me.’’

Babcock said both of his club’s goals were the result of good middle drives.

Alfredsson scored his third of the season at 11:37 of the second from close range.

“It was a loose puck and I just tried to go far side,’’ Alfredsson said. “I don’t know if it hit something on the way there.’’

Tatar notched his first of the season at 18:58 with an innocent-looking wrist shot from the point on which Roberto Luongo was screened.

“I got nice pass from Kronner (Niklas Kronwall) and I just cut in the middle and waited for Pav (Datsyuk) and Z (Henrik Zetterberg) to get open but they drove the net,’’ Tatar said. “So I just shoot it on net and the puck end up somehow in.’’

Said Babcock: “Anytime you have people driving through the middle and creating confusion good things can happen.’’

Tatar was sporting an ice pack on his left hand and wrist after the game but said it's just precautionary, he expects to play Friday at Calgary.

The Red Wings’ top line of Datsyuk, Zetterberg and Todd Bertuzzi and top defense pairing of Kronwall and Danny DeKeyser did a good job containing the Canucks’ potent line of Daniel and Henrik Sedin with Ryan Kesler.

Daniel Sedin, however, opened the scoring at 14:12 of the first period by one-timing a pass from his twin brother from a sharp angle.

“That was a great play,’’ Howard said. “They’re world-class players. They’re very dangerous, (wherever) they are on the ice. I think that’s the first time I’ve ever seen someone go bar-down from the corner. It was really impressive. Right after that our top line did a good job limiting their chances.’’

The Red Wings improved to 10-4-2 in their past 16 games in Vancouver.

“Any time you go four games, with eight possible points, and you only get two of them, you’re not rolling along,’’ Babcock said. “The rest of the league is rolling along and you’re just watching them get further ahead.

“I haven’t looked at the stats in a week because I can’t stand looking at them. Maybe I’ll check them out tomorrow.’’